Mechanical telephone



(No Model.)

J. P. SIMS.

MECHANICAL TELEPHONE.

N0. 304,242. Patented Aug. 26, 1884.

WITNESSES N. PETERS, Phnluiilhugnphur. Wailnnglom uc.

ITED STATES A'TEN'I @rrrcn.

JOHN F. SIMS, OF ILLIOPOLIS, ILLINOIS.

MECHANICAL TELEPHONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. %,242, dated August 26, 1884'.

Application filed November 13, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. SIMs,-a citizen of the United States, residing at Illiopolis, in the county of Sangamon and State of Illi nois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Telephones, of which the following is a description.

This invention relates to that, class of telephones which use only mechanical means for transmitting sound without the aid of eleetricity, and are called mechanical telephones.

The object of my invention is, first, to transmit speech and other sounds, and to reproduce the same at a distance from the point where they are received; second, to properly adjust the strain upon the transmitting-wire; and, third, to provide simple and effective means for giving a signal.

To this end my invention consists in the construction and combination ofparts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of my invention and a wall or partition supporting it, and Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same without the hell or mouth portion and the wall.

IV represents the wall, to which the wooden diaphragm K is attached by means of screws U, passing through the diaphragm K, and through cleats D, which are interposed between the diaphragm and the wall. These cleats are shown in section in Fig. 1, They cross the grain of the wood of the diaphragm K, to which they are secured to strengthen it, and they serve to separate it from the wall, leaving it free to vibrate.

R is a metallic diaphragm, to the circular edge of which the bell or mouth-piece L is attached by a flange, over the edge of which the periphery of the diaphragm B is turned, in a manner usual to sheet-metal work. The bell L is shaped like an inverted saucer, and has a central mouth or opening, E,very much smaller than the base of the bell where it joins the diaphragm, and the bell rises away from the plane of the diaphragm R, forming a soundchamber, N, into which the person speaks to transmit a niessage,and to which he may place his ear to receive a message.

T represents the transmitting or line wire, which is attached at one end to the center of the diaphragm R of one telephone, and at the I other end to another similar diaphragm of a similar telephone. (Not shown in the drawings.)

O is a hole in the partition Vt, and Q, is a hole in the center of the wooden diaphragm K, both large enough for the wire to pass freely. The line-wire is aligned to the center of these holes by means of abrace-wire secured at g, and it is drawn to the required tension by means of a cord H and guide-pulleys B. This cord passes into the operatingroom through a hole, Z, in partition NV, and a wedge or plug, I, is adapted to fit the hole Z, whereby the operator may secure the tension-cord Hwhen he has drawn it tight enough to secure the desired result. To this end the hole Z and plug I are placed where the operator may reach them while in the act of speaking into or listening at the telephone. The parts It, forming the sound-chamber N, are secured to the wooden diaphragm K by means of screws Y, passing through all of said ,parts, and through blocks A, of corks or other spongy or non-sounding material, which are interposed between the metallic diaphragm B and the wooden diaphragm K, to prevent the vibrations of either diaphragmbeing transmitted to the other. Between these blocks A and between the two diaphragms R and K is an open space or passage, P, free to admit air and sound at all sides. Therefore the dia phragm K serves as a reflector of sound, and the back of the transmitting'diaphragmR may receive such reflected sound, as well as direct sounds through passage B. The resonance of diaphragm K is insured by its being sup ported on the cleats D.

To sound a call, I provide a signaling-rattle crank,- M, and a spring, 0, engaging the teeth of said wheel. iVhen the crank is turned, the spring snaps from tooth to tooth, giving a sharp sound. This signal-rattle is secured to and wholly supported upon the diaphragm R, the crank and wheel being journaled in a sleeve, J, which is secured to said diaphragm. By thus supporting the rattle all its effect is transmitted through the line-wire, and the call is loudly sounded at the opposite telephone.

That I claim as my invention, and wish to secure by-Letters Patent, is

consisting of a ratchet-wheel, S, having a 1. The combination, with the resonant diapln'aglnboard K, of the platediaphragm ll and the saucer-shaped perforated bell L, secured at its edges to the said diaphragm 11, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with the resonant diapln'agin-board K, of the plate-diaphragm 1%, having a bell closely secured upon its eireun1- ferenee, and the blocks A,ini'erposed between the two diaphragins, the spaee between said. blocks and between said diaphragi'ns being open laterally, as and for the purpose specilied.

3. The combination, with the bell and trans initting-diapln'agln ola telephone, 01' a signal rattle substantially as described, secured directly to and supported by the said diaphragm, as and for the purpose specified.

4L. The eonlbination, with awall having two holes in it, of a line-wire, T, entering one of said holes, a tension-cord, li', entering The other, a wedge or plug, I, for the latter, and the gnidepulleys B, as shown and. deseribed.

.T. F. SIMS. -Witnesses:

A. S. Cams, DAVID JOHNSTON. 

